Five families with arginine 519-cysteine mutation in COL2A1: evidence for three distinct founders

Arginine519-cysteine mutation in the type II procollagen gene (COL2A1) is known to be associated with mild spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia (SED) and precocious generalized osteoarthritis (OA). Five families have now been identified with this mutation. To determine whether a common founder was responsible for the mutation in these five families, we defined the haplotype of the mutation-bearing chromosome using four restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) and the 3'-untranslated region VNTR. Haplotype frequencies were estimated for 69 control samples. Three distinct mutation-bearing haplotypes were identified, with three families sharing a common haplotype. For three distinct haplotypes to have derived from a single founder, three independent recombination events would have had to occur. Thus the arg519 codon appears to represent a possible site of recurrent mutations in COL2A1, an uncommon phenomenon in collagen genes.

The hypothalamic leptin receptor in humans: identification of incidental sequence polymorphisms and absence of the db/db mouse and fa/fa rat mutations

Leptin-receptor gene expression in hypothalamic tissue from lean and obese humans was examined. The full-length leptin receptor, that is believed to transmit the leptin signal, is expressed in human hypothalamus. There was no difference in the amount of leptin-receptor mRNA In seven lean (BMI 23.3 +/- 0.9 kg/m2) and eight obese (BMI 36.9 +/- 1.5) subjects as determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. A sequence polymorphism (A-->G) was detected at position 668 of the leptin receptor cDNA. This second base substitution changed a glutamine to an arginine at position 223 of the leptin receptor protein. Of 15 subjects analyzed, 11 were heterozygous for this base change and 3 were homozygous. The occurrence [correction of occurance] of the polymorphic allele(s) did not correlate with BMI in the population studied. The mutation responsible for the defect in the leptin receptor in db/db mice was not detected in any obese human, nor was the fa/fa rat mutation. These results provide evidence that the leptin resistance observed in obese humans is not due to a defect in the leptin receptor.

Mutation screening and identification of a sequence variation in the human ob gene coding region

In the present study mRNA from the subcutaneous adipose tissue of 68 obese (defined as a body mass index > or = 27.3 for men and > or = 27.8 for women) and 38 lean subjects was screened for mutations in the ob gene coding region. No mutations in the coding region of the human ob gene were detected using Conformation Sensitive Gel Electrophoresis in 105 subjects. A first base substitution (G to A) was detected in one individual, which changed a valine to a methionine at position 94. The mRNA of all subjects contained the codon for glutamine-49, ruling out the possibility of a splice defect occurring during the removal of intron 2. These observations suggest that defects in the ob gene sequence itself are not the primary cause of obesity in humans.

Evidence against either a premature stop codon or the absence of obese gene mRNA in human obesity

Obese (ob) gene expression in abdominal subcutaneous adipocytes from lean and obese humans was examined. The full coding region of the ob gene was isolated from a human adipocyte cDNA library. Translation of the insert confirmed the reported amino acid sequence. There was no difference in the sequence of an reverse transcription PCR product of the coding region from five lean and five obese subjects. The nonsense mutation in the ob mouse which results in the conversion of arginine 105 to a stop codon was not present in human obesity. In all 10 human cDNAs, arginine 105 was encoded by CGG, consequently two nucleotide substitutions would be required to result in a stop codon. To compare the amount of ob gene expression in lean and obese individuals, radiolabed primer was used in the PCR reaction with beta-actin as a control. There was 72% more ob gene expression (P < 0.01) in eight obese subjects (body mass index, BMI = 42.8 +/- 2.7) compared to eight lean controls (BMI = 22.4 +/- 0.8). Regression analysis indicated a positive correlation between BMI and the amount of ob message (P < 0.005). There was no difference in the amount of beta-actin expression in the two groups. These results provide evidence that ob gene expression is increased in human obesity; furthermore, the mutations present in the mouse ob gene were not detected in the human mRNA population.

Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia and precocious osteoarthritis in a family with an Arg75-->Cys mutation in the procollagen type II gene (COL2A1)

Direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified genomic DNA from a patient with spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia and precocious osteoarthritis revealed a single-base change in exon 11 of the type II procollagen gene (COL2A1), which produces an Arg-->Cys mutation in one allele. The proband is a member of a large Chilean kindred presenting with chondrodysplasia of the hips, knees, shoulders, elbows, and spine associated with severe, early-onset osteoarthritis. All affected individuals exhibit mildly short stature; in addition, five out of seven affected family members display shortened metacarpals or metatarsals. DNA from affected and unaffected family members was PCR-amplified and analysis of restriction digests of the products determined that the mutation segregated with the disease with a lod score of 2.2 at zero recombination. The mutation, which resides in the triple-helical region of type II procollagen at amino acid position 75, is the second example of an Arg-->Cys mutation in the COL2A1 gene in heritable cartilaginous disease and is the first example of a point mutation in the amino terminal region of the alpha 1(II) chain, that results in a spondyloepiphyseal dysplastic phenotype.

Detection of sequence variants in the gene for human type II procollagen (COL2A1) by direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction-amplified genomic DNA

The direct sequencing of the human type II procollagen (COL2A1) gene from polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified genomic DNA is described. Thirty-two regions of the COL2A1 gene were asymmetrically amplified with intron primers which were specifically chosen to amplify a region spanning 500 to 800 bp of sequence encoding one or more exons and their accompanying intervening sequences. Primers for dideoxynucleotide sequencing of the PCR products were then designed to provide complete exon sequence information and to insure that intron:exon splice junction sequence data would be obtained. Amplification and sequencing reactions were performed on an automated workstation to facilitate the handling of multiple DNA templates. The procedure allowed efficient sequencing of over 25,000 bp of each allele of the COL2A1 gene per diploid genome. We used this method for the comparative analyses of COL2A1 sequences in DNA isolated from the blood of 42 unrelated individuals and we identified 21 neutral sequence variants in the gene. The sequence variations were confirmed by independent assays, including restriction enzyme digestion. The sequence variants described here will be important for identifying haplotypes of the type II procollagen gene that will be useful in defining a genetic etiology for diseases of cartilaginous tissues.